IP Library Granted Patent US 8,553,443
Granted Patent B2
US 8,553,443 · App. 13/357,712 · Granted Oct 8, 2013

Memory device and memory access method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,553,443
App. No.
13/357,712
Granted
Oct 8, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a memory device in which the circuit structure is simplified while the functions of a memory including an OTP memory and a memory including a pseudo-MTP memory are maintained. A memory device includes a plurality of memory sets each including a mark bit storage area for storing a mark bit, which indicates that an object is deleted data, and a data bit storage area for storing data, the memory device being built from an OTP memory including an OTP memory block and a pseudo-MTP memory block, the OTP memory block containing a given number of memory sets to operate as an OTP memory, the pseudo-MTP memory block containing the rest of the memory sets operates as a pseudo-MTP memory. The mark bit is written in advance in the mark bit storage area of the OTP memory block.

Claims (14)

1. A memory device comprising a plurality of memory sets each including a data bit storage area, the memory device comprising:

a one time programmable (OTP) memory including at least one OTP memory block and at least one pseudo-multi time programmable (MTP) memory block, the at least one OTP memory block including a first number of memory sets of the plurality of memory sets that comprise an OTP memory, the at least one pseudo-MTP memory block including a second number of memory sets of the plurality of memory sets that comprise a pseudo-MTP memory,

wherein each of the second number of memory sets comprises at least one mark bit, the mark bit indicating the presence or absence of data, the memory device further comprising:

an address search unit that refers to the mark bits of the second number of memory sets to obtain an identified address of the second number of memory sets in which most recent data is written;

a writing unit that writes the data bit storage area of one memory set of the second number of memory sets whose address is indicated by the identified address;

a reading unit that accesses the data bit storage area of one memory set of the second number of memory sets whose address is indicated by the identified address;

and

a mark bit writing unit that writes the mark bit of one memory set of the second number of memory sets whose address is indicated by the identified address,

wherein the mark bit writing unit changes the value of mark bit at the identified address.

2. The memory device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second number of memory sets are structured to allow reading and writing of a plurality of systems of data, and

wherein, the address search unit obtains, based on a system selection signal, an identified address of the second number of memory sets.

3. The memory device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the reading unit reads the OTP memory block, using an address contained in an instruction.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 8, 2023
From: ABLIC INC.
To: ABLIC INC.
Reel/Frame 064021/0575 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 12, 2018
From: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: ABLIC INC.
Reel/Frame 045567/0927 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037783 FRAME: 0166. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 23, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037903/0928 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION .
Reel/Frame 037783/0166 →